Former UMass hockey players come to Springfield for game against AHL Falcons

The Republican photo by Don TreegerJames Marcou is one of three former UMass hockey players who will be skating for Worcester Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center

The University of Massachusetts hockey team is at Wisconsin this week, but Minutemen fans can see a trio of former favorites when the Worcester Sharks play the Springfield Falcons in an American Hockey League game Wednesday night at 7 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

Forwards James Marcou and Cory Quirk, along with defenseman Matt Irwin, will skate with the Sharks. Marcou has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 31 games. Irwin has five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 25 games. Quirk is 1-1-2 in 31 games.

Defenseman Justin Braun had played 17 games for Worcester (1-8-9), but is now up with parent San Jose.

Worcester is in fourth place in the seven-team Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference with 36 points, but only one point out of second. It's a big game as the Falcons, in sixth place with 32 points, are only one point out of fifth and four points behind the Sharkis with a game in hand.